Trial Dates Set For Trie, Kanchanalak

By Brooks Jackson/CNN

WASHINGTON (Aug. 21) -- Trial dates have been set early next year for campaign fund-raiser Charlie Trie and major contributor Pauline Kanchanalak, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman announced Friday.

Jury selection for the trial of Trie, accused of funneling illegal
international contributions to the Democratic Party, is set to begin Feb. 1, 1999, with opening arguments starting Feb. 8, 1999.

For Thai businesswoman Kanchanalak, also accused of making illegal
donations, jury selection starts March 8, 1999, with opening arguments
scheduled to begin March 15, 1999.

Each trial is expected to last three to four weeks.

Trie had been set to begin trial in October, but his attorney Reid
Weingarten pleaded for extra time because of a conflict. He is also
representing former Agriculture secretary Michael Espy in a trial that begins
Oct. 1, which Weingarten said is now expected to last several months.